Lillian Hunsinger Yengo, 89, passed away peacefully on April 29, 2026, surrounded by love in her home in Dushore, Pennsylvania — the farm she had spent a lifetime longing to return to, and that she was blessed to call home for her final years. A farm girl at heart from her very first breath to her last, Lillian lived a life defined by deep roots, boundless generosity, and an unshakeable love for the land, her animals, and the people around her.

Lillian grew up on the family farm in Dushore, where her love of animals and gardening was woven into the fabric of her daily life. This connection to the land never left her, even as life carried her elsewhere. She moved to Ithaca, New York to pursue a career as a beautician, and it was there that she would build a remarkable life — meeting and marrying John Yengo, who preceded her in death in 2019.

In Ithaca, Lillian quickly built a loyal following of clients, which gave her the confidence to open her own beauty shop right within her family home. For decades, she ran that shop with skill and warmth, continuing to serve her customers until the impressive age of 82. Lillian's shop was never just a place for haircuts — it was a gathering place. Those who first sat in her chair as customers walked out as lifelong friends. That was simply the kind of person Lillian was.

No matter how full her life in Ithaca became, Dushore and the family dairy farm — Stony Acres — always called her home. Lillian would work a full week at her salon and pack up her clothes and her two beloved pet goats for the 90-minute drive back to the farm, where she worked side-by-side with her brother Bill. When the demands of the dairy operation grew too great for the two of them, they made the bittersweet decision to sell the cattle and turn their full attention to what would become Lillian’s crowning passion: her garden.

Lillian’s 5,000-square-foot garden was legendary in Dushore. Each year, she painstakingly selected more than 10 varieties of tomatoes and cultivated over 100 tomato plants alone — and that was just the beginning. The garden overflowed with flowers and vegetables of every kind, yielding bountiful harvests that Lillian shared with friends, family, neighbors, and anyone who crossed her path during the growing season. Sharing was not an afterthought for Lillian; it was the whole point.

And if there were any doubt about Lillian’s dedication, this past year put it to rest. At the age of 88, she broke her own record by canning an astonishing 542 pint and quart jars from her garden’s harvest. In 2020, she had finally fulfilled her lifelong dream of moving back to the farm, and she lived there with joy and purpose every single day until her passing.

Lillian is lovingly survived by her three children, Lisa, Greg, and John; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Irene and brother-in-law, Bob Schaefer, who brought Lillian great joy in her final years with countless hours of dominoes and homemade wine at the farm. Her family has made a heartfelt promise to keep the garden growing this year — a fitting tribute, as Lillian had already planted seeds for 100 tomato seedlings before her passing, and they are growing beautifully.

Details regarding a celebration of Lillian’s life will be shared at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Dushore Fire & Rescue at P.O. Box 1, Dushore, PA 18614, whose continued service is a blessing to the entire Dushore community and beyond.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Homer Funeral Home, 206 Water St., Dushore, PA.

To send condolences or sign the e-guestbook, please go to www.homerfuneralhome.com